Mankato, MN — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Minnesota·Mankato

Blue Earth County · Mankato · population 46,459

Mankato, MN
Image: Wikipedia · Mankato, Minnesota
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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74
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Mankato stands

At or near all-time high. home values up 4.1% in the last year. rents up 10.2% in the last year.

Median home $304,881
1-year +4.1%
5-yr CAGR +5.6%
vs 5-yr peak +0.0%
Population +1.1%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2026-04$305k$163k$214k$266k$317k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
85/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,333/mo$933$1,181$1,42920242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent11112910012020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 19.1
Lean buy

At a 19.1 price-to-rent ratio, Mankato is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
71 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
68 · w22%
Distance from peak
90 · w18%
Population growth
66 · w16%
Rent YoY
85 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
66 · w10%
Long thesis

Mankato has held up across the cycle: home values at $304,881 with +5.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.

Short thesis

Mankato's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Mankato

Mankato is a city in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, with an estimated population of 46,459. The population grew 1.1% annually from 2020 to 2024, a moderate gain. The median home value in Mankato is $304,881 as of 2026-04, up 4.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +5.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Mankato average $1,333 per month, up 10.2% year-over-year. The composite momentum score is 74 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●Healthy 5-year run: +5.6% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Quiet strength: +4.1% over the trailing year — not a melt-up, but the market is bid.
●Net positive migration: population up 1.1% per year — demand fundamentals are intact.
●Held the highs: currently +0.0% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.
●Hot rental market: rents up 10.2% YoY — landlords have pricing power, supports new investment math.

▼ Bear case

●Rental squeeze: rents up 10.2% YoY — tenants face tough renewals. Affordability deteriorating fast.
○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Mankato (Wikipedia)

Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is the county seat of Blue Earth County. It is the 21st-largest city in Minnesota and fourth-largest outside of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area, with a population of 44,488 at the 2020 census. The Mankato–North Mankato metropolitan area has an estimated 105,000 residents.

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Blue Earth County right now.

NWS active alerts (MN)Minnesota Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Blue Earth County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Mankato

Faribault, MN70 · RisingSartell, MN71 · RisingWinona, MN71 · RisingSt. Peter, MN72 · Rising

Run the numbers for Mankato

ToolCan I afford Mankato?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Mankato rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Mankato to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolMankato cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
22° / 4°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
82° / 62°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
198
~54% of year
Annual precip
28″ rain
45″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
High
Wildfire
Very low
Earthquake
Very low
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Mankato listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Mankato area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
71%
Humid climate
Median household income
$84,300
Minnesota state median
Top industries (state-level)
Medical DevicesFinanceManufacturing

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

Cities similar to Mankato

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